Heart Theatre Company
Jesús Daniel Hernández (Singer/Actor), known to audiences worldwide as The Walking Tenor, is a Mexican-American operatic tenor whose career bridges the worlds of classical music, cultural heritage, and personal resilience. Born in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México, Hernández emigrated to the United States as a teenager. From an early age, he dreamed of becoming a classical singer. In 2003, however, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving with distinction as a chemical operations specialist in Iraq. A turning point came in 2007 when Hernández attended a concert by Plácido Domingo in San Antonio, Texas. Seizing the opportunity to sing for the world-renowned tenor, Hernández impressed Domingo, who invited him to join the prestigious Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program at the Washington National Opera. This mentorship provided him with rigorous training and exposure to the international stage, launching his professional career. He has since appeared with companies and orchestras across the United States and Europe, balancing traditional opera with recital work that highlights his bicultural identity.
Antonio Espinal (Pianist/Actor) is an orchestral conductor, choral conductor, and pianist with an MFA from Carnegie Mellon University. He made his Opera debut conducting “La Traviata” in his hometown of Mexico City at the age of 24. Before that, he was a piano faculty member at Mexico’s National Conservatory of Music. He has now participated in more than 70 opera productions, with work spanning the National Opera Company, Teatro Lirico, and Teatro del Bicentenario Opera Chorus in León, Guanajuato, Mexico. A strong promoter of the arts for children, he has founded multiple non-profit youth choirs, with accomplishments such as performing with pop singer Demi Lovato at the ALMA Awards (2011), and signing with Milan Records, a French recording label. He is currently a pianist and vocal coach at the Duke Ellington School for the Arts, the head of the theory department at the University Fausto de Aguirre, in Puebla, Mexico, and a doctoral candidate at The Catholic University of America.
Stacy Whittle (Actor/Producer) has produced and acted in theaters in Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, appearing in dozens of plays with theaters in Bahrain, Washington, D.C., and beyond, as well as in countless readings at embassies and cultural centers. Favorite roles include Lída Baarová in Pankrác ’45 and the many women she portrayed in Michel Houellebecq’s Submission. She has also produced and directed short films, acting opposite Eric Roberts in Eyes of the Roshi, and created Anthem award-winning projects. Her latest short film features world-renowned tenor Rolando Villazón in a story about the importance of trees and the communities that care for them. She is the proud mother of her two sons, Emile and Tamer. This performance is dedicated to Maria Callas, whose words still ring true: “An artist’s duty is to defend what is beautiful.” With gratitude to FB, TH, EWH, MM, AO, and so many others who made this event possible.
Olivia (Liv) Tyndall (Actor/Producer) was thrust into the performing arts against their will at the ripe age of 11. They have since forgiven those involved in the thrusting, given it spawning their life's passion. They hold a B.A. in Theatre with Acting and Stage Management concentrations from Muhlenberg College, as well as an M.A. in English Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Central Florida. They now run their own online private acting studio, project manage for environmental non-profit Corazón Latino, and freelance as a stage manager, teaching artist, director, actor, singer, and writer. Their work tends to revolve around neurodivergence, comedy, anti-realism, classical works, and gender studies–all through the lens of acting and writing. Some of their additional interests include animal rights, anti-capitalism, and petting any snail who will permit them to do so. @prof.tyndall; www.proftyndall.com
Felipe Benítez (Executive Producer) is an award-winning entrepreneur and opera connoisseur who has dedicated his career to connecting people with nature, food, music, dance, opera, and theatre. As Founder and Executive Director of Corazón Latino, Felipe leads a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening bonds between all Americans and the great outdoors, the arts, and civic participation, rooted in shared values of love, compassion, and hope. A true American success story, Felipe has channeled his passion for this country’s landscapes into innovative programming that brings people together. One of his proudest achievements was producing the signature event for the 2020 National Public Lands Day Celebration, in partnership with Toyota, a virtual road trip showcasing the iconic parks, forests, and public lands that make America exceptional. The event reached more than one million users per month and earned national recognition for its innovation and community impact.
Dara Brewton (Producer) is a multi-passionate person who has worn many hats in her life — from Starbucks manager to deputy editor for a progressive news site. Because she still doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up, she dabbles in project management, acting, voice acting, scriptwriting, and filmmaking. She has a deep passion for travel and created her own travel website, www.backpackwanderings.com. On any given day, you can find her planning trips, writing articles, or scouring the internet for things to do in various locations.
Saemi Guzman (Assistant Producer) is a senior at UMass Amherst studying Legal Studies and Information Technology. A longtime lover of the performing arts, she has a background in dance and once served as president of her high school a cappella group. She is passionate about advocacy and is still exploring where her interests in law, technology, and creativity will take her. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and spending time in nature.
